Rehabilitation device for persons with paresis of lower limbs enabling them to walk

ABSTRACT

Rehabilitation device for persons with paresis of lower limbs enabling them to walk, comprising rocking elements having at their lower part foot elements with platforms for user&#39;s feet, said rocking elements being connected, at their upper part by a frame constituting a jacket.

The object of this invention is a rehabilitation device for persons withparesis of lower limbs, enabling them to walk.

There are known devices which facilitate handicapped persons to walk;one of these devices being described in Polish patent No 176092,consisting essentially of two parallel flat, quadric mechanisms,situated symmetrically in relation to the vertical axis of the user, theaxis of pivotal movement of the symmetrical support elements passingthrough pelvis joints of the user, where the quadric mechanisms areinterconnected by a leading, non-planar quadric mechanism with fourelements. the pivot joints of which having axis intersecting in themiddle of respective pelvis joint of the user.

In the course of exploitation of the described above rehabilitationdevice enabling persons with paresis of lower limbs to walk and keeptheir balance it appeared that its utility value can be noticeablyincreased and its maneuvering can be facilitated.

Rehabilitation device for persons with paresis of lower limbs enablingthem to walk, according to present invention consists essentially ofrocking elements having at their lower part foot elements with platformsfor user's feet, said rocking elements are connected, at their upperpart by a frame constituting a jacket, is characterized by he fact, thatit has two basic and two auxiliary rocking elements, where the basicelements consist of two pairs of members, the upper pair and the lowerpair of members, where the members of each pair are connected to eachother by means of a pivot joint, while the auxiliary rocking elementsconsist of one pair of members, each member of the pair connected attheir lower portion by means of a pivot joint to connectors, which areconnected in turn to upper members of basic rocking elements, which areconnected, at their lower portion, to foot elements with foot platforms,where, at the uppermost portion of basic and auxiliary rocking elementsare connected, by means of pivot joints to angular connectors havingbolts rotatably mounted in clasps, slidably mounted on the jacket frame,and where the auxiliary rocking elements are connected, at their lowerportion to pistons of spring, gas or hydraulic shock absorbers or topneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, acting as servomotors, which, at theirother ends are pivotally connected to said foot elements, at a distancefrom connecting pivots of basic rocking elements. Said foot elementsconsist each of a trapezoidal frame with two pairs of arms, the firstpair of arms being parallel to the axis of the person's movement, i.e.axis of symmetry of the device, and the second pair of arms havingsupports being able to extend outwardly in relation to the axis ofsymmetry of the device, and where the one, longer arm of the first pairhaving pivotal joints for the basic rocking elements and shockabsorbers, and the second, shorter arm having a foot platform securedthereto. The said foot elements each, having flexible pads underneath,situated, one just under the foot platform and the two other at the endsof outwardly extending arms and where the latter pads being slightlylower than the former ones. The auxiliary rocking elements areinterconnected by means of horizontal bipartite interconnections, towhich is fixed a plate constituting a seat, in a manner that the basicand auxiliary rocking elements constitute symmetrical left hand andright hand side of the device.

In another embodiment of the invention of the rehabilitation device forpersons with paresis of lower limbs, the device is equipped with footelements having each, a section of channel bar, situated in the middlepart of longer trapezium arm, fixed pivotally on a bolt to said longertrapezium arm, and having drilled holes, where, to said bar is attacheda bracket with sliding arm, and where at either side of said bolt whichpivotally fixes said channel bar are rigidly fixed to the foot elementlonger arm, two screw bolts with internally threaded bushes there on,having flanges at their lower part, and passing loosely through saiddrilled holes in said channel bars, and secured outside by clamp nuts,where, in space between bottom of said channel bars and the flanges ofsaid threaded bushes are situated a washer rings made of an elasticmaterial. To each of sliding claps situated on the jacket frame ispivotally attached a channel bar grip, to the wall of which is fixed abolt with a rotary square plate there on, to which, adjacent at itsopposite corners, are rigidly fixed two bolts, to one of which ispivotally attached end of one basic rocking element, to the other, ispivotally fixed the end of one auxiliary rocking element, where to theupper portion of said basic rocking elements are attached handles forperson's hand, where the handles are equipped with levers and flexibleconnectors acting upon locking mechanisms situated on said shockabsorbers or servomotors. Each of said square plates has attached at itsupper rear part, a connector to which is mounted a shock absorber madeof an elastic material, with a screw rod secured into a threaded hole ofa bolt, fixed pivotally in a connecting member, fixed solidly to thelower part of said square plate. To the underneath part of said seatthere are attached two tubes spaced apart, with two shafts inserted intothem, equipped at their respective ends with shock absorbers, made ofelastic material, attached by means of additional rods to auxiliaryrocking elements.

The described device prove to be more dynamic, more mobile and flexible,which facilitates walking action, and owing to locking mechanisms,connected by means of elastic connectors to handles for person's hands,makes it possible to change the position of the person, from uprightstanding position to sitting position through many intermediarypositions, where the flexible mounting of the seat plate facilitatesstepping movement of the person.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be now described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows lateral view of he device, drawn in convention of cinematicscheme, when the device is in its upright position;

FIG. 2 shows front view of the device, drawn in convention of cinematicscheme, when the device is in its upright position;

FIG. 3 shows the foot element viewed from above;

FIG. 4 shows the foot element viewed from the front.

FIG. 5 shows lateral view of the device, drawn in convention ofcinematic scheme, when the device is in its seating position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device, seeing from the front;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device, seeing from the rear;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the junction of channel bar grip and thesquare plate seeing from the rear;

FIG. 9 is a view of portion of foot element with section of channel bar,with a bracket and sliding bar shown in longitudinal section;

FIG. 10 is a view of jacket frame with sliding claps and channel bargrip and with square plate with bolt, shown in cross section;

And FIG. 11 is a perspective lateral view of the device in its seatedposition.

The rehabilitation device for persons with paresis of lower limbsenabling them to walk comprises two basic rocking elements 1 consistingof two pairs of members: upper pair of members 2 and 3 and lower pair ofmembers 4 and 5, where members 3 and 4 are interconnected pivotally, andcomprises, two auxiliary rocking elements 6, parallel to upper pair ofmembers 2 and 3 of basic rocking elements, each auxiliary rockingelement consisting of one pair of members 7 and 8. Members 3 b ofauxiliary rocking elements 3 are also pivotally connected to connectors9. fixed to members 4 of basic rocking elements 1. The members 5 ofbasic rocking elements 1 are pivotally connected to foot elements 10,and, at the upper part, the members 2 of basic rocking elements 1 andmembers 7 of auxiliary rocking elements 6 are pivotally connected toangular connectors 11 having bolts 12 fixed rotatably in claps 13slidably mounted on the jacket frame 14. To the foot elements 10, at adistance from pivot joints mounting members 5 of basic elements 1, arepivotally attached spring, pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorbers 15 orpneumatic or hydraulic cylinders acting as servomotors, of whose pistons16 are mounted pivotally to members 8 of auxiliary rocking elements 6.The foot elements 10 are trapezoidal in shape, whose arms 17 havesupports 18, which can be extended outwardly, and brackets 19 at theirends, while to the longer sides 20 are pivotally mounted members 5 ofbasic rocking elements 1 as well as spring, pneumatic or hydraulic shockabsorbers or servomotors 15 and, to the shorter sides 21 of trapezoidalfoot elements 10 are mounted foot platforms 22. Underneath shorter sides21 of trapezoidal foot elements 10, just under foot platforms 22 arefastened flexible pads 23, and under brackets 19 are fastened flexiblepads 24, with height slightly less than that of pads 23. The auxiliaryrocking elements 6 are interconnected, by means of bipartite shafts 25to which is mounted plate 26. To the jacket frame 14, at its rearportion, are mounted bipartite jibs 27, with bipartite connecting rod 28at their upper ends, and, in front part of the jacket frame 14 aremounted handles 29 for user's hands.

In another embodiment of the invention, the device comprises two basicrocking elements 30 consisting of two pairs of members: upper pair ofmembers 30 a and 30 b and lower pair of members 30 c and 30 d, wheremembers 30 b and 30 c are interconnected pivotally by means ofconnectors 31, and comprises, two auxiliary rocking elements 32,parallel to upper pair of members 30 a and 30 b of basic rockingelements 30, each auxiliary rocking element consisting of one pair ofmembers 32 a and 32 b. Members 32 b of auxiliary rocking elements 32 arealso pivotally connected to connectors 31. The members 30 d of basicrocking elements 30 are fixed, at their lower portion, so channel barsections 33 with holes 34, which channel bar sections 33 are pivotallyattached, by means of bolts 35 to middle part of longer side oftrapezoidal foot elements 36. To the same longer side of trapezoidalfoot elements 36 are solidly fixed, at either side of bolt 35, screwbolts 37 with threaded bushes 38 thereon, the latter having flanges 38 aand being secured by clamp nuts 39, where the screw bolts 37 with bushes38 pass through holes 34 in the channel bars sections 33, where thediameter of holes 34 is greater than the corresponding diameter ofbushes 38. In the space between bottom surface of channel bar 33 andlower surface of the flange 38 a of each bush 38 are situated rings 40,made of elastic material. Adjacent to ends opposite to bolts 35 ofchannel bars 33, are solidly attached brackets 41 with, each bracket 41being equipped with a sliding arm 42, terminated by a solidly attachedbush 43. Inside the bushes 43 are pivotally mounted ends of spring, orpneumatic or hydraulic shock absorbers 44, which, at their oppositeends, are pivotally attached to the members 32 a f the auxiliary rockingelements 32. On the side arms of jacket frame 45, there are mountedsliding claps 46 with screw bolts 47, situated on the vertical axis ofthe sliding claps 46, onto which bolts 47 are mounted channel bar grips48. To the front wall of each channel bar grip 48, is attached screwedbolt 49 having a square plate 50 pivotally mounted thereon. To theplates 50 are mounted, adjacent to its opposite corners, threaded bolts51, to one of which is pivotally attached the end of member 30 a of thebasic rocking element 30, ant to the other bolt 51 is attached the endof member 32 a of auxiliary rocking element 32. To the side of members30 a, of basic rocking elements 30, adjacent to their place of fixing onthe threaded bolts 51 on the square plates 50, are mounted handles 52for user's hands. On the ends of handles 52 are mounted levers 53 linkedby means of flexible connectors 54 with locking mechanism 55, mounted oneach spring or pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorber 44. Beneath of thejacket frame 45 a seat 56 is situated, to which are fastened underneathtubes 57, spaced apart, into which are slid-ably inserted two shafts 58equipped at their respective ends with shock absorbers 59, made ofelastic material, attached by means of additional rods 60 to members 32a of auxiliary rocking elements 32. Also, to the rear part of jacketframe 45 are fastened two jibs 61 with backrest 62 for the person'sback, where said backrest 62 and jibs 61 are equipped with fasteningbelts 63. At the upper part of members 30 c of basic rocking elements 30are fastened jibs 64, bent at right angle, at the end of which arefastened slid ably and rotatable clasps 65 for supporting person'sshins. To the front portions of trapezoidal foot elements 36 arefastened platforms 66 for person's feet. Besides, extending outwardlyfrom the foot elements 36 there are slid able supports 67 with pads 67 aat their ends. To the square plates 50, above, at the rear, is fasteneda connector 68 with attached shock absorber 69 made from elasticmaterial, with a screw rod 70 secured into a threaded hole 71 of a bolt72, fixed pivotally in a connecting member 73, fixed solidly to thelower part of said bar grips 48. Additionaly to the lower part of themembers 30 d of the basic rocking elements 30 is fastened pivotally, atits respective ends, a stabilization shaft 74 which serves to assureparallel positions of basic rocking elements 1 during walking.

To use the device according to present invention, a handicapped personapproaches the device on the wheel chair, the device being in its seatedposition, and the person is transferred onto device's seat 56, then theperson puts his (her) feet on the foot platforms 66, puts shins intoclaps 65 and buckles fastening belts 63, then, unlocks lockingmechanisms 55 by means of levers 53 and pushes down the handles 52causing change of the seat position from seated to upright one, and atthe same time causing standing position of the handicapped person.

The action of walking is carried out in such a way that the user, whileholding the handles 52, performs swinging movements from left side toright side and at the same time pulling up alternately, left or righthandle 23 causing forward strokes alternatively of left or right footelement 36

What is claimed is:
 1. Rehabilitation device for persons with paresis oflower limbs enabling them to walk, comprising rocking elements having attheir lower part foot elements with platforms for user's feet, saidrocking elements being connected, at their upper part by a frameconstituting a jacket, is characterized by the fact, that it has twobasic rocking elements (1) and two auxiliary rocking elements (6), wherethe basic elements (1) consist of two pairs of members, the upper pair(2 and 3) and the lower pair of members (4 and 5), where the members ofeach pair are connected to each other by means of a pivot joint, whilethe auxiliary rocking elements (6) consist of one pair of members (7 and8), each member of the pair connected at their lower portion by means ofa pivot joint to connectors (9), which are connected to members (4) ofbasic rocking elements (1), which are connected, at their lower portion,to foot elements (10) with foot platforms (22), where, at the uppermostportion of basic rocking elements (1) and auxiliary rocking elements (6)are connected, by means of pivot joints to angular connectors (11)having bolts (12) rotatably mounted in clasps (13), slidably mounted onthe jacket frame (14), and where the auxiliary rocking elements (6) areconnected, at their lower portion to pistons of spring, gas or hydraulicshock absorbers or to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders (15), acting asservomotors, which, at their other ends are pivotally connected to saidfoot elements (10), at a distance from connecting pivots of basicrocking elements (1).
 2. Rehabilitation device according to claim 1,characterized by the fact, that said foot elements (10) consist each ofa trapezoidal frame with two pairs of arms, the first pair of arms (20and 21) being parallel to the axis of the person's movement, i.e. axisof symmetry of the device, and the second pair of arms (17) havingsupports (18) being able to extend outwardly in relation to the axis ofsymmetry of the device, and where the one, longer arm (20) of the firstpair having pivotal joints for the basic rocking elements (1) and shockabsorbers (15), and the second, shorter arm (21) having a foot platform(22) secured thereto.
 3. Rehabilitation device according to claim 2,characterized by the fact, that said foot elements (10) each, havingflexible pads (23 and 24) underneath, situated, one (23) just under thefoot platform (22) and the two other (24) at the ends of outwardlyextending supports (18) and where the latter pads (24) being slightlylower than the former one (23).
 4. Rehabilitation device according toclaim 1, characterized by the fact, that said auxiliary rocking elements(6) are interconnected by means of horizontal bipartite interconnections(25), to which is fixed a plate (26) constituting a seat. 5.Rehabilitation device for persons with paresis of lower limbs enablingthem to walk, comprising rocking elements having at their lower partfoot elements with platforms for user's feet, said rocking elementsbeing connected, at their upper part by a frame constituting a jacket,is characterized by he fact, that the auxiliary members (30 d) of basicrocking elements (30) are fixed, at their lower portion, to channel barsections (33) with holes (34), which channel bar sections (33) arepivotally attached, by means of bolts (35) to middle part of longer sideof trapezoidal foot elements (36) to which are solidly fixed, at eitherside of bolt (35), screw bolts (37) with threaded bushes (38) thereon,having flanges (38 a) and being secured by clamp nuts (39), where thescrew bolts (37) with bushes (38) pass through holes (34) in the channelbars sections (33), where the diameter of holes (34) is greater than thecorresponding diameter of bushes (38). and in the space between bottomsurface of channel bar (33) and lower surface of the flange (38 a) ofeach bush (38) are situated rings (40), made of elastic material. 6.Rehabilitation device according to claim 5 characterized by the fact,that on the side arms of jacket frame (45), there are mounted slidingclaps (46) with screw bolts (47), situated on the vertical axis of thesliding claps (46), onto which bolts (47) are mounted channel bar grips(48) with attached screwed bolt (49) having a square plate (50)pivotally mounted thereon, to which are mounted, adjacent to itsopposite corners, threaded bolts (51), to one of which is pivotallyattached the end of member (30 a) of the basic rocking element (30), antto the other bolt (51) is attached the end of member (32 a) of auxiliaryrocking element (32), and, to the side of members (30 a), of basicrocking elements (30), adjacent to their adjacent to their upperportion, are mounted handles (52) with levers (53) linked by means offlexible connectors (54) with locking mechanisms (55), mounted on eachspring or pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorber (44).
 7. Rehabilitationdevice according to claim 6, characterized by the fact, that to thesquare plates (50), is fastened from above, at its rear a connector (68)with attached shock absorber (69) made from elastic material, with ascrew rod (70) secured in a threaded hole (71) of a bolt (72), fixedpivotally in a connecting member (73), fixed solidly to the lower partof said bar grips (48).
 8. Rehabilitation device according to claim 5,characterized by the fact, that underneath seat (56) are fastened tubes(57), spaced apart, into which are slid-ably inserted two shafts (58)equipped at their respective ends with shock absorbers (59), made ofelastic material, attached by means of additional rods (60) to members(32 a) of auxiliary rocking elements (32).